A VISIT TO THE ZOO

This morning we took a ride to the local zoo, along the Stellenbosch/Klipheuwel Road.

We had not been to a zoological garden for many years, and thoroughly enjoyed looking at the various animals in their respective enclosures. The cheetah was hiding and not to be viewed; we saw lions and a very large, very handsome, lazy leopard.

Two 'sacred' baboons from Eastern Africa, a male and female, were sitting demurely together on a perch against the wire fencing staring directly over our heads. They seemed quite oblivious of our presence. No matter how many diversions we tried to create, they disdainfully ignored us and proceeded to stare at something invisible to us mere mortals. Just as we got bored and prepared to move away a parks attendant approached with their daily rations and suddenly they were transformed and there was a lot of frolicking taking place within the enclosure, including some quite remarkable acrobatics. We then understood that their attention had been focused in the direction from which they expected their food and were anxiously awaiting its arrival!

A lioness was digging a hole near the fence of their den and my youngest was growling and snarling at her, much to her irritation. She would storm the fence and growl, showing her very large yellow teeth and then retract her steps and return to her digging.

We speculated that she was either trying to dig an escape tunnel, or else she was chasing after a mole, because there were a number or mole hills around, but she was, in fact, just fussy about her toilet habits and we were obviously ignorant regarding animal behaviour.

Love was in the air in the giant tortoises' enclosure.

Then we turned to the farming animals: donkeys, ponies, horses, fowl, ducks, geese, and last but not least the goats. There were quite a large number of them, all sizes and shapes, with motley coloring. Quite a few mama-goats seemed ready to add to the numbers at any minute. They were all bleating at the same time. I suspect it was also their feeding time. We spent quite a while watching them.

Their voices were very distinctive - no two sounded exactly the same. I said to Nadia : "This must be what it sounds like to God when we all start praying, begging and/or praising together." I was amazed to find that after only about five minutes I could turn my back to these animals and still distinguish between their voices!

One little kid, in particular, was very endearing. When she opened her mouth with her little pink tongue protruding she sounded very needy and looked very vulnerable. We fell in love with her and wanted to lift her out of the enclosure and take her home with us!

It filled me with overwhelming joy to understand that God knows my voice even amidst the cries of His many children from all over the world. He hears me when I cry or praise and knows exactly whom it is calling on His name.

        "But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, o Jacob, and He who formed you, o Israel:
        "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine." "  Is. 43:1-2

         "I am the good Shepherd." John 10:1-14

Thank you, Lord, that you know me personally. Thank You that you know my name. You are also my Creator, my Shepherd.

2008

(Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.)